Israel's oldest newspaper sanctioned for critical reporting

Israel's oldest newspaper sanctioned for critical reporting

CNN - On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet unanimously decided to sanction the country's oldest newspaper. The reason for this step are critical reports on the war published after the Hamas attacks on October 7, as well as statements by the publisher of the newspaper, which had requested sanctions against high-ranking government officials.

hair net and its critical reporting

Haaretz, highly regarded internationally, in their reporting on the war according to the Hamas attacks on October 7, the Israeli armed forces (IDF) reported extensive abuse, while the military operations in Gaza and the adjacent Lebanon were extended.

government measures against the newspaper

The proposal brought in by the Minister of Communications Shlomo Kar’i stipulates that the government will hire its advertising in the newspaper and terminate all subscriptions for the government and employed state companies.

Haaretz described this step as an attempt to silence a critical, independent newspaper.

reactions to the decision

In an explanation after the vote, Kar’i wrote: "We must not allow the publisher of an official newspaper in the state of Israel to demand sanctions against the state and support the enemies of the state in the middle of a war, while international institutions undermine the legitimacy of the state of Israel."

Criticism of statements by the publisher

Amos Schocken, the editor of the newspaper, came under criticism after he got into a Speech at an event in London on October from Palestinian "Freedom fighters" spoke.

"The (Netanyahu government) does not take care of the imposition of a cruel apartheid regime on the Palestinian population.

After broad criticism of his comments in Israel, Schocken made it clear that he did not believe that Hamas fighter was freedom fighter.

Correction of Haaretz

In a comment, Haaretz said that shocks referred to "Palestinians who live under crew and oppression in West Bank". Nevertheless, the newspaper admitted that shocks made a "mistake" by describing anyone who deliberately harms civilians and terrorized as a "freedom fighter". The correct term is "terrorists". In addition, Schocken called for international sanctions against Israel leader to move the government to change course.

Haaretz criticizes government decisions

"In a way, what is now happening in the occupied areas and in part of Gazas is a second nakba," he said. "A Palestinian state has to be founded, and the only way to achieve this is the application of sanctions against Israel, against the leaders who turn against it, and against the settlers."

In his explanation on Sunday, Kar’i named Haaretz's report on the war as the reason for the decision: "The decision came after many articles that undermined the legitimacy of the state of Israel in the world and his right to self -defense."

Criticism of freedom of expression in Israel

Haaretz condemned the step in a explanation on Sunday and described him as "another step in netanyahus to rush Israeli democracy ”. "Like his friends Putin, Erdoğan and Orbán, Netanyahu tries to silence a critical, independent newspaper," the explanation said. "Haaretz will not give in and will not be transformed into a government sheet that publishes messages that are approved by the government and its leader."

a worrying trend

This measure follows the military Raid and Shutdown of al Jazera’s Office in Ramallah two months earlier and the closure of the broadcasting company in May, which was sharply condemned by the United Nations and Human Rights Organizations.

On Friday, the Commission reported to the protection of journalists (CPJ) that Investigations have shown that at least 137 journalists and media employees were killed during reporting on the war, which made this time the most deadliest for journalists, since CPJ started the data collection.